Jamaica Legion Poppy Appeal pins down support from PwC Jamaica

28 October 2021 – PwC Jamaica, on Wednesday 27 October joined fellow members of Corporate Jamaica in making ‘steps for vets’ by contributing to the National Poppy Appeal Drive.

Tricia-Ann Smith DaSilva, Partner, PwC Jamaica: “We are delighted that even in this climate we are able to lend a hand to such a tremendous organisation such as the Jamaica Legion Poppy Appeal. The level of financial, social, physical and mental care that the Jamaica Legion delivers for our ex-servicemen and women is not only admirable but inspirational. We salute them and whole-heartedly embrace the significance of the National Poppy Drive. We will surely keep close to our hearts the sacrifice of these men and women in securing the Jamaica we enjoy today.”

Spearheaded by the Poppy Appeal arm of the Jamaica Legion, the National Poppy Drive will officially close its campaign on Thursday 11 November with hopes of raising J$15 million towards the care of Jamaica’s veterans. Following the launch on Sunday 3 October under the patronage of His Excellency, The Most Hon. Sir Patrick Linton Allen, ON, GCMG, CD, KSt. J, Governor General of Jamaica, there will be two other major events. They are the “Step for Vets” walk-a-thon, which is a simultaneous event across multiple parishes, slated for Thursday 4 November and the second staging of their popular Vets for Vets Concert on Saturday 13 November.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Warrenton Dixon, Chairman of the Jamaica Legion Poppy Appeal (JLPA), the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a well-needed push towards innovation.

“I took over chairmanship last year in the presence of this COVID-19 pandemic, during it, and we had to try to be very innovative in order to do the things we did. Schools were out, where we normally distribute most of our poppies, so we innovated, and we implemented what we call ‘Poppy Patrols’. Using soldiers, who are pretty much dispersed across the island anyways, we engaged them to distribute Poppies to the populous in town centres and so on. We also did a simultaneous walkathon across multiple parishes and we inaugurated a new concert called Veterans for Veterans. The concept being veterans of the music industry performing in concert as a basis against which we seek to raise funds on behalf of our military veterans.”

COVID: A silver lining?

In what may be an unpopular opinion, Lieutenant Colonel Warrenton Dixon expressed the view that COVID-19 in the case of the National Poppy Appeal drive has been, surprisingly, a good thing.

“Last year it taught us that instead of trying to fill this room [venue location] with people who can physically attend the event we try to fill the world. So, we were able to get overseas viewers from the UK, France, Slovakia, US, Canada... The potential is great, and our eyes have been opened to things. We must also continue to try to innovate with time because as time goes on things change. So, we thank PwC for its support to help us make strides towards our goals.”

The Jamaican Legion was established in 1949 to look after veterans’ affairs in Jamaica. More specifically at that time for those soldiers who were coming back from World War II in addition to those who would have fought in World War I. A special infirmary was set up in Newport, Manchester called the Curphey Home. It underwent renovations in 2017 and continues to house Jamaica’s indigent veterans. However, the Jamaica Legion provides for more than the persons located at Curphey Home due to limited capacity at the home and an overwhelming need. The charitable support of well-wishers is an essential source of funds for the care of these veterans in Jamaica.

Let us not forget
Lieutenant Colonel Warrenton Dixon (right), Chairman of the Jamaica Legion Poppy Appeal pins a poppy on Tricia-Ann Smith DaSilva, Partner, PwC Jamaica at their office in Kingston on Wednesday, October 27, 2021.